Prisons in Europe

The vigilance and control of the European Court of Human Rights behind the closed doors of prisons have considerably increased and diversified in recent years, in particular with the new pilot-judgment procedure. The questions raised here address the issues of the right to life and suicide in prison, of the right to health and prison overcrowding in light of the prohibition of torture and inhuman or degrading treatment, and of some aspects relating to respect for private and family life in detention. These rights are resources for prisoners but also for prison staff.